Several years before the commander was given a new job in Växjö, several incidents had been discovered and came to the notice of the managers in the local police area he was working in. The man was taken in for a conversation with the manager and had to apologize to several women, but then the matter was resolved.

- In light of the fact that the prosecution has now been prosecuted, the assessment that this was a work environment problem was an incorrect assessment made occasionally. I have no explanation for why they were judged that way, says Peo Söyseth, acting police chief in the Kalmar Kronoberg police area.

The recruiting manager knew the rumors

When the order became relevant for the head office in Växjö, the responsible manager in Växjö had been reached by rumors of events in which the command was involved, says Peo Söyseth.

- He tried to get to the bottom with the rumor to bring some clarity to it. But he did not reach all the way forward, the information could not be substantiated in any way. And then it happened that he was moved from one managerial position to another in Växjö.

How do you look at that recruitment today?

- It had never happened at all. It hadn't happened.

Want him dismissed if sentenced

Peo Söyseth emphasizes that the commander is not yet convicted of anything, but if he does, the police in the southern region have demanded that the man be dismissed. The Police Personnel Responsibility Board, on the other hand, considers that if he is only convicted of one of the charges, he can retain his employment.

Would that mean he could remain as manager then?

- I do not want to make a specific statement in this case, but there are good opportunities within the framework of labor law to terminate functions and execute relocations, says Peo Söyseth.

Woman changing job

The woman who reported the order after the Christmas party in Växjö chose to change jobs after the incident. She is now working on another part of the police. Since the incident was reported last spring, the order has been on sick leave, but holds the same executive service.

Is it reasonable for women who are subjected to misconduct to have to move?

- It's totally unreasonable and it's definitely not okay.

Must attend training in the fall

During the autumn, several of the local police areas in Kalmar and Kronoberg will have two-day conferences with training in "soft values", says Peo Söyseth. One of the things you will then focus on is sexual misconduct.

Will the managers also receive this training?

- I think the most important thing is that the managers together with the staff get to sit down and discuss what expectations there are of how we should act. And from our side as superior managers, it is important that we continue with the communication that this is absolutely not okay. If this happens you are notified and risk being both dismissed and relocated.